My Morning Ride

After my morning run, Lesa and I went on a bike ride on the bike trail north of town. Lesa wanted to try out her new Diamondback Serene bike. After looking on Craigslist for weeks, we gave up and the bought last night at Dick's in Champaign. She's thinking of naming it Ivy and I'm naming mine Knop after Mark Knopfler who wrote Sultan's of Swing.

My Morning Run. Country Running

About 2 miles west of town on East County Road 600 North.

Could be Wisconsin...but it's not.

Here comes the sun!

Puffy clouds are better than puffy shirts.

Land shark!

Song of the day. "Stompa" by Serena Ryder

My Morning Run. It's Not the Heat...

98% humidity isn't common but combine it with a seemingly pleasant 76 degrees you get a wickedly wet 5 mile run with a  dewpoint of 75 (anything above 65 is uncomfortable). I'll be inside for the test of the day replacing fluids. 

My Morning Run. A swell 5 miles.

While running through EIU campus, I saw Tim McCollum. He looked like he was just standing there waiting to cheer me on. Thanks, Tim. One of the nicest guys I've ever known. EIU running camp starts tomorrow.

My Morning Run. Return to Humidity

Downhill just south of Kickapoo Church. It's much greener than my last run in Sahuarita, AZ. I got up at 5:30 and it was already in the 70s and I didn't dare look at the humidity level for fear it would un-motivate me. 

Oh, Paige....

I saw this on a bridge guardrail. 

More greenery. At least the humidity is good for something.

A very wet spring caused late planting. The corn is way behind schedule. 

Charleston driving range! Classy for sure. 

Good morning Goodards!

Summertime Tunes

It's the first day of summer which is not my favorite season. In fact, it's my least favorite. So my favorite songs of summer are not the typical bunch. Beach Boys? Cliche. Pablo Cruises? Who? For me the quintessential summer song is Sausalito Summer Nights by Diesel. "I'll have a burger and a root beer."

In second place is Summer by War. The bronze medal goes to Chuck Prophet for A Summertime Thing. Finally, I can't leave off my list Windows Are Rolled Down by Amos Lee. Rounding off the list is Boys of Summer by Don Henley. And, that's it. It is summertime after all. 

What are your favorite summertime tunes?

My Morning Run. Arizona

Jogging path around Sahuarita, AZ

I'm not in Illinois.

Pretty

Sahuarita Lake

I met the perfect running partner for me!

Your typical man-made, cement paved, wilderness trail. 

Pecan grove just east of town.

42 percent humidity? 

My Morning Run. It will only get worse.

I didn't get up early enough for a run. I'll try again tomorrow.

My Morning Run. Midway Mozy

Looking west between Midway and Heber

Looking north. 

11 years ago? Really? Doesn't seem that long ago.

Covered bridge in Utah? What's next Amish settlements? 

My Morning Run. Altitude Training.

Not the most amazing photos but, thanks to my pal Roland (aka Bill) the 6 mile run on the Logan canyon river trail was amazing. Beautiful vistas on a gorgeous morning. As Joe Walsh stated, "Life's been good to me so far".

Utah Valley Running Feast

A 10K for breakfast with my girls. I loved it! 

And, a 1K for lunch with Polly. I loved it! 

For brunch I ran the last 1.2 miles of Tom's full marathon. I bailed out on Tom at the last minute but he graciously understood and ran the whole enchilada for his breakfast. Based on his finishing time, I would have only held him back. 

The real lunch was found at Cubby's In the form of a Chicago Beef sandwich,  a perfect ending to a fantastically filling smorgasbord of running.

As always thanks to Lesa for making it all possible in so many ways. 

My Morning Run. Runnin' 'round EIU

I run this campus!

My Morning Run. Legs? What legs?

Today's run was a shorty on the Panther Trail. This is view is looking north near the northwest corner of the trail. I ran 4 miles on the trail on Monday and my legs were tired. I took yesterday off and they're still tired. I've yet to complete my last long run in preparation for the Utah Valley Marathon on June 8th. I may have to count the marathon as my final long training run. 

My Morning Run, Love The Month of May!

Darn power lines.

It's nice to see pretty things along the way and if it isn't my wife, it might as well be these.

I don't know which got me; the miles ) it was really 18 miles) or the heat (first +70 degree run of the year).

0h, I'm going to be satisfied tomorrow! 

My Morning Run, Goose, Goose

I tried very hard not to disrupt their FHE as I ran by.

Both parents made sure I kept moving.

My Morning Run, Yucky Run

EIU Soccer Field.

Cold symptoms + tired legs = yucky run. But, it's done!

My Morning Run, Belford

Ned Lunt, Dave Belford, and President Jeff Stowell at the St. Louis temple. Dave was baptized for 21 deceased family members today. 

My Morning Run, Deader Skunk

On the trail (and streets) again with a goal of 16 miles.

This dead skunk I saw on the trail last week is even deader this week.

A little over 1 mile to go. EIU's Old Main and Domino Pizza, just a reminder that universities are being run more and more like businesses. And, that's not a good thing. Ironically, the Domino's in Charleston went out of business. 

Speaking of local business, my favorite post-long run meal is currently a #3 sandwich and a bag of Thinny Chips from Jimmy John's.